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Oct 24 2011 8 Comments

A wonderfully relaxing weekend afternoon

On a comfortably warm weekend afternoon, relaxing outside with a book really takes some beating.

reading outside in Japan

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Matt says

    10/24/2011 at 10:47 am

    Especially with your shoes off. He looks fully engrossed in his book.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/24/2011 at 5:43 pm

      He was. His only movement was to turn the page.

      Reply
  2. andra says

    10/24/2011 at 12:02 pm

    yeah, that was the 1st thing to strike me too, taking the shoes off when sitting on a boardwalk type of thing. fascinating how Japanese people take off their shoes almost everywhere, and I cannot get the people take come into my house to take theirs off!!! they actually look offended when asked, seriously!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/24/2011 at 5:46 pm

      That’s one of the little things I like about cherry blossom season, seeing all the shoes neatly lined up around the picnic mat. It always fascinates me.

      Definitely with you on the house thing. After living here for so long, going into someones house with my shoes on just seems wrong. As does seeing others walk about their house in outdoor shoes.

      Reply
      • Lizzy says

        10/24/2011 at 9:52 pm

        From a Western p.o.v. unless asked to remove your shoes (in which case one should) doing so could be percieved as making yourself too comfortable in someone else’s home. Additionally, a person could feel vulnerable without their shoes. I rarely wear mine especially in my own house for comfort reasons. I inform guests that they can if they want to, but it’s not a requirement. Unless they’re muddy. In that case, thankfully, they usually take them off automatically at the door.

        Reply
        • Lee says

          10/24/2011 at 10:10 pm

          That’s interesting Lizzy, I hadn’t thought of it like that. Fascinating how the same gesture can be viewed so differently.

          Reply
        • Jaska says

          10/24/2011 at 10:14 pm

          Depends which part of the ‘Western’ p.o.v. we’re talking. Here in Finland it’s the same as in Japan, when you go in you take your shoes off, doesn’t matter whether it’s your own home or someone elses.

          Reply
          • Lee says

            10/24/2011 at 10:18 pm

            In Britain it’s a mixed bag. At least from my (now rather limited experience) experience.

            Reply

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